Light fixture



M. BQBRICK LIGHT FIXTURE Nov., l0, 1970 `2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fiied April s,1s s-f New. W, W7@ M. BoBRlcK 3,539m

` LIGHT FIXTURE Filed April 3, 1967 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 /A/ VEA/'role M/YCHELL BOER/CK MAHONEY HORA/BAKER A oPA/e YS Patented Nov. l0, i9703,539,801 LIGHT FIXTURE Mitchell Bobrick, 605 Erskine Drive, PacificPalisades, Calif. 90272 Filed Apr. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 628,004 lnt. Cl.F21s 1/.06

U.S. Cl. 2410-78 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates to a light fixture and, more particularly, to a light fixtureforming what may be termed a cluster light wherein a plurality ofindividual light bulbs are operably mounted in a single light fixturehousing, said light fixture being particularly adaptable for surfacemounting on room ceilings and the like. Even more particularly, thisinvention relates to a light fixture of the foregoing characterincorporating a unique form of electrical distribution means therein anda unique form of multiple bulb receiving sockets therein, all integratedto provide a highly efiicient light fixture construction.

Various prior forms of light fixtures have been provided wherein two andsometimes three light bulb receptacles are mounted in a single fixturefor the simultaneous lighting of bulbs received in said receptacles uponthe transmission of electrical power to said fixtures. Each of the priorfixtures will normally include some form of housing having a singlereflector means associated therewith and with the multiple receptaclesfor the transmission of light generated by the bulbs from one face ofthe fixture. Furthermore, such one face of the fixture will usually becovered by a translucent or transparent diffuser in an attempt to softenthe brightness of the individual bulbs.

One of the major difficulties with the prior multiple bulb fixtures hasbeen the inefficiency of light production thereof for a particular bulbWattage. This light production inefficiency is occasioned by the factthat where two or three relatively large size bulbs are involved in asingle fixture, it is difiicult to provide efficient light reflectionmeans therefor, While still maintaining the overall cost of the fixtureat a reasonable level. As previously stated, the light reflection meanshas usually been of a singular form and not properly concentrated inassociation with each of the individual light bulbs so that it isnecessary to use bulbs of increased wattage in order to provide thedesired intensity of light from a particular fixture.

The foregoing difficulty with the prior light fixtures of the typeherein involved and the manner of solution thereof by the provision oflight bulbs of higher wattage has still further magnified an additionalmajor problem with the prior fixtures and that is one of providingsufficient illumination from the fixture, While still maintaining suchillumination of a soft and glare-free nature. The necessity of usinglight bulbs of relatively large wattage has resulted in the lightfixtures being required to have a diffuser of major light shieldingqualities in order to eliminate individual bright spots created by theindividual bulbs, or to have a diffuser of lesser light shieldingqualities and provide a fixture having apparent bright spots from theindividual bulbs. Also, where bulbs of relatively large wattage arerequired in order to produce the illumination desired from a singlefixture, problems of heat concentration at the individual bulbs areencountered with the consequent difiiculties thereof.

It is an object of my invention, thereof, to provide a light fixtureconstructed for receiving a relatively large number of light bulbstherein, said number far exceeding that of the usual two or three lightbulbs of the prior light fixtures of similar type. Each of the lightbulbs of a single fixture may be of reduced wattage and each may have anindividual reflector so as to more evenly distribute the light sourcethroughout the extent of an individual fixture, while still providingthe capacity of illumination desired. Such not only eliminates theproblem of bright spots of the fixture and permits the use of a diffuserof less light shielding qualities, but also reduces the problem of heatconcentration Within the fixture presented previously in the priorconstructions by the higher bulb Wattage.

It is another object of my invention to provide a light fixture of theforegoing type having a unique bulb socket construction therein and aunique electrical distribution arrangement between said sockets. Theelectrical distribution may be accomplished by several, individuallyintegrated, planar circuits spaced apart by insulating sheet means, saidcircuits preferably being of a stamped or printed form. Furthermore, thesockets may be formed by simple openings in the insulating sheet means,having tab-like contacts projecting into interference with the socketopenings and forming both the bulb threadable reception means necessaryin each socket, as well as the single contact in said sockets.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide a light fixturehaving a unique simplicity of construction, economical to fabricate on aproduction line basis. The foregoing multiple light bulb reflectors maybe formed integral from a single stamped sheet, permitting a multiplechoice of fabrication materials. The unique socket constructions andelectrical distribution arrangement are obviously adapted to massproduction fabrication so that the overall light :fixture constructionmakes possible the provision of a unique and advantageous light fixturefar superior over the prior constructions, yet at a reduced unit cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings which are for thepurpose of illustration only, and in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view showing a light fixture embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken along the brokenline 2 2 in FIG. l and showing the light fixture surface mounted on theceiling of a building structure;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal, sectional View taken along the broken line 3 3in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the brokenline 4 4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along the broken line 5 5in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional View taken along the broken line 6 6in FIG. 4 and showing the end contact of an individual light bulbsocket;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along the broken line 7 7in FIG. 4 and showing the combination bulb base receiving means and sidecontacts for an individual bulb socket;

FIG. 8 is a reduced, fragmentary, sectional view similar to FIG. 6, butshowing another form of end contact integrated in a network of said endcontacts for a series of bulb sockets; and

FIG. 9 is a reduced, fragmentary, sectional view similar to FIG. 7, butshowing the side bulb base contacts of a single bulb socket integratedin a network of said bulb sockets.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawings, an embodiment of thelight fixture of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 andincludes a housing or pan 12, hollow cylindrical in configuration andhaving a circular base portion 14 surface mounted on a ceiling 16through securement by mounting screws 18 to a typical electrical outletbox 20 recessed within said ceiling in the usual manner. The pan 12 maybe of any usual rigid material, such as metal or plastic, and isprovided with an annular side flange 22 preferably integral with thebase portion 14 and laterally peripherally enclosing the pan.Furthermore, the pan 12 in the mounted position shown, opens downwardlyand telescopically receives a shouldered end portion 24 of a similarlyperipherally flanged light diffuser 26 formed of the usual translucentor transparent plastic or glass, said diffuser in assembled positiondownwardly closing the pan 12 and being removably secured thereto in anyusual manner.

A series of overlying sheets of electrical insulating material,including a lower sheet 28, an intermediate sheet 30 and an upper sheet32, are mounted within the pan 12, said sheets substantially conformingto the circular configuration of the pan base portion 14. The uppersheet 32 abuts the interior surface of the pan base portion 14 and thelower sheet 28 faces downwardly well recessed within the pan 12 and theside flange 22 thereof. Also, the multiple sheet 28 through 32 areformed with a series of preferably equally spaced socket openings 34preferably completely therethrough, said openings at the lower sheet 28being of reduced size and increasing in size through the intermediateand upper sheets 30 and 32, as shown.

A series of laterally adjacent light reflectors 36, equal in number tothe socket openings 34, are mounted against the lower face of the lowersheet 28, said reflectors being substantially identical of dishedconfiguration and having central bulb openings 38 aligned with thesocket openings 34 so that there is on reflector for each socketopening. In fabrication the reflectors 36 for an individual lightfixture 10, it is prefererd to form all of said reflectors from a singlesheet, with all of said reflectors being integrally connected, as bestseen in FIG. 2, for economy of fabrication, handling and assembly, withthe face coniigurations of the individual reflectors being hexagonal, asbest seen in FIG. 3, or other usual shapes, depending on the effectdesired.

In the preferred form shown in FIG. 3, however, the hexagonal shape ofthe individual reflectors 36 permits the straight perimetrical edges ofthe hexagonal perimeters thereof to be positioned mating similar edgesof adjacent reflectors forming an integral cluster of individualreflectors separated by straight joining lanes. The reflectors 36 may beformed of any usual materials, such as drawn and polished steel oraluminum, metalized plastic, or aluminum foil covered plastic or metal.

As best seen in FIGS. 2` and 4 through 7, for electric distribution andsupply to and from the individual socket openings 34, a first networklayer 4t) of conducting material is sandwiched between the lower andintermediate sheets 28 and 30, extending linearly between the socketopenings 34 and having a contact ring 42 at and surrounding each of saidsocket openings. A plurality, preferably a pair of oppositely depending,tab-like contacts 44 are secured to each of the first network contactrings 42 projecting laterally into and into interference with each 0fthe Socket openings 34. Said contacts 44 terminates laterally spacedapart within the socket openings 34 and form lateral contact andreceiving means for threadably receiving bases 46 of electric lightbulbs 48, said bulb bases being retained within said socket openings bysaid contacts, with the remainder of said bulbs projecting downwardlythrough the reflectors 36.

A second network layer 50 of electrical conducting material issandwiched between the intermediate and upper sheets 30 and 32,extending linearly between said socket openings 34 and similarly havingcontact rings 52 surrounding each of said socket openings. The secondconducting network 50 is, therefore, electrically insulated from thefirst conducting network 40 by the intermediate sheet 30. Furthermore,preferably a single, tab-like, spring contact 54 is secured to each ofthe second network contact rings 52, projecting laterally intointerference with the socket openings 34, said contacts 54 being locatedfor providing the end electrical contact with the bulb bases 46 whensaid bases are threadably engaged by the first network contacts 44, aspreviously described.

The first and second conducting networks 40 and 50 are preferablyintegrated, stamped metal, such as copper, but could be of the usualprinted form, with each extending in the single plane, as shown. In theconfiguration of the embodiment of the light fixture just described andas best seen in FIG. 3, each of said first and second conductingnetworks 40 and 50 have the respective contact rings 42 and 52 linearlyconnected to one other of said Contact rings of said network, with oneside of the first conducting network 40 being connected through a usualinsulated lead 56 and the opposite side of the second conducting network40 being connected through usual insulated lead 58 into the electricaloutlet box 20 for connection thereof to a usual source of electricity.

Thus, due to the unique formation of the light reflectors 36, preferablyfrom a single sheet, and the unique composite formation of the lightbulb sockets by the combination of the bulb openings 38y in the sheets28 through 32 and the first and second network contacts 44 and 54, aswell as the electrical distribution by said networks, the light fixtureof the present invention readily lends itself to efficient massproduction fabrication. After the unitized fabrication of each of thevarious components, the first and second conducting networks 40 and 50are assembled as layers between the various lower, intermediate andupper sheets 28, 30 and 32, the sheet of the reflectors 36 assembledtherewith and the entire assembly inserted into the pan 12. All of saidcomponents may be retained in said assembled position within the pan 12by the same mounting screws 18 previously pointed out and securing thepan 12 to the electrical outlet box 20.

A modified form of the first and second conducting networks isillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein said networks are similarlyformed, but each of contact rings 60 and 62 of respective conductingnetworks 64 and 66 are linearly connected laterally to all surroundingof said contact rings. As a result, the respective conducting net works64 and 66 are more completely connected and more stable for productionhandling, although requiring a greater amount of conducting material forthe fabrication thereof. Said conducting networks 64 and 66 `willfunction substantially the same and serve the same purpose as previouslydescribed.

The light bulbs 48, due to the relatively large plurality or clusterthereof may be of relatively low wattage, for instance, in the order of10 watts, with the total number capable of providing a major intensityof light emission. At the same time, due to the low wattage of theindividual light bulbs 48, the heat concentrations may be maintained ata minimum. Where conditions warrant, however, and the size of theparticular light fixture is adequate, the light bulbs 48 may be ofrelatively large wattage and the construction will still provide theconsequent advantages of heat distribution.

Thus, I have provided, according to the principles of the presentinvention, a unique form of cluster light fixture `wherein the lightemission thereof is evenly distributed throughout said fixture, as isthe heat resulting from the light bulbs supplying said light emission.In addition, I have provided a light xture having a unique form of re-Hector, bulb socket and electrical distribution fabrication andassembly, having maximum simplicity and lending said fabrication andassembly to production line procedures and equipment.

I claim:

1. In a light figure, the combination of: a pan having a perimetricalside llange defining the lateral extremities thereof; a series ofjuxtaposed light reflectors laterally within said pan side flange; bulbsocket means including an electric bulb socket at each reilector for thereception of an electric light bulb therein and the direction ofelectric power therethrough; electric supply means operably connected tosaid sockets, said electric supply means including at least two layersof electrical conducting material with one overlying and spaced from theother, each of said layers being an integral layer and extending betweeneach of said bulb sockets, each `of said sockets being connected to atleast one other of said sockets by both of said conducting layers; andsaid bulb socket means including insulating sheet means having a certainpart thereof between said conducting layers of said electric supplymeans, an opening in said sheet means at each of said reiiectors,talb-like contact means operably connected to and extending from each ofsaid conducting layers of said electric supply means into interferencewith each of said sheet means openings, one of said contact means ateach of said sheet means openings threadably receiving said light bulbsand the other of said contact means contacting said light bulbs, saidsheet means openings and contact means cooperating to form said bulbsockets.

2. A light lixture as defined in claim 1 in which said electric supplymeans includes two networks of said electrical conducting material, eachof said networks being a coplanar, integral network extending linearlybetween said sockets, each of said sockets being electrically connectedto at least one other of said sockets by each of said conductingmaterial networks; and in which said bulb socket means includes saidtab-like contact means being at least two tab-like contacts operablyconnected to and extending laterally from one of said conductingnetworks into interference with each of said sheet means openings forthe threadable reception of said light bulbs and at least one tab-likecontact operably connected to and extending laterally from the other ofsaid conducting networks into interference with each of said sheet meansopenings for contacting said light bulbs.

3. In a light fixture, the combination of: insulating sheet meansincluding a series of overlying sheets of insulating material; a clusterof laterally adjacent light reflectors mounted at one side of saidinsulating sheet means; a series of light bulb sockets formed in saidinsulating sheet means including an opening formed in each of saidinsulating sheets for each of said sockets, one of said sockets beingaligned with and opening into each of said reflectors; each of saidsockets including electric contact means for receiving and retaining thelbase of an` electric light bulb therein with said bulb extending intothe associated reflector, said electric contact means being adapted fortransmitting electric power through said light bulb base and said lightbulb, said electrical contact means of each of said sockets including aplurality `of spaced tab-like contacts extending laterally from betweencertain of said insulating sheets into interference with said socketopening and forming thread engaging members for threadably receiving anlretaining said light bulb base and at least a single tab-like contactextending laterally into interference with said socket opening forcontacting said light bulb base; and electric supply means operablyconnected to said contact means of each of said sockets for supplyingelectrical power thereto.

4. A light fixture as dened in claim 3 in which said at least singletab-like contacts of said electrical contact means at each of saidsockets are spaced from said plurality of contacts by at least one ofsaid insulating sheets and extending laterally into interference withsaid socket opening adapted for contact with said light bulb bases; inwhich said electric supply means includes two coplanar, integratednetworks of electrically conducting material extending linearly betweeneach of said sockets, one of said conducting networks extending betweensaid certain insulating sheets and being electrically connected to eachof said plurality of contacts of each of said sockets, the other of saidconducting networks being spaced from said one conducting network bysaid at least one insulating sheet and being electrically connected toeach of said at least one tabs at each of said sockets, each of saidsockets being electrically connected to at least one other of saidsockets by each of said conducting networks.

5. A light fixture as defined in claim 3 in which all of said reflectorsare formed integral as a single sheet, each of said reflectors having ahexagonal perimeter with straight perimetrical edges mating withstraight perirnetrical edges of adjacent reflectors forming an integralcluster of individual reflectors separated by straight joining lines.

6. In a light fixture, the combination of z a pan having a parametricalside flange delining; the lateral extremities thereof; a series ofjuxtaposed dished light reflectors laterally within said pan side ange,all of said rellectors being formed integral as a single sheet, each ofsaid reflectors having a hexagonal perimeter with straight parametricaledges of adjacent reflectors forming an integral cluster of individualreflectors separated by straight joining lines; bulb socket meansincluding an electric bulb socket at each reflector for the reception.of an electric light lbulb therein and the direction of electric powertherethrough; electric supply means operably connected to said bulbsocket means for the direction of said electric power to each of saidsockets including two networks of electrical conducting material, eachof said networks being a coplanar, integral network extending linearlybetween said sockets, each of said sockets being electrically connectedto at least one other of said sockets by each of said conductingmaterial networks; said bulb socket means including insulating sheetmeans, an opening in said sheet means at each of said reflectors, atleast two tab-like contacts operably connected to and extendinglaterally from one of said conducting networks into interference witheach of said sheet means openings for the threadable reception of saidlight bulbs, at least one tab-like contact operably connected to andextending laterally from the other of said conducting networks intointerference with each of said sheet means openings for contacting saidlight bulbs, said sheet means openings and said contacts cooperating toform said bullb sockets.

7. In a light iixture, the combination of: a pan having a parametricalside flange defining the lateral extremities thereof; a series ofjuxtaposed dished light reflectors laterally within said pan sideflange, all of said reectors lbeing formed integral as a single sheet,each of said reflectors having a hexagonal perimeter with straightparametrical edges mating with straight parametrical edges of adjacentreflectors forming an integral cluster of individual reflectorsseparated by straight joining lines; bulb socket means including anelectric bulb socket at each rellector for the reception of an electriclight bulb therein and the direction of electric power therethrough;electric supply means operably connected to said `bulb socket means forthe direction of said electrical power to each of said sockets includingat least two layers of electrical conducting material, with oneoverlying and spaced from the other, each of said layers being anintegral layer and extending between each of vsaid bulb sockets, each ofsaid sockets being connected to at least one other of said sockets byiboth of said conducting layers; said bulb socket means includinginsulated sheet means having a certain part thereof between saidconducting layers of said electrical supply means, an opening in saidsheet means at each of said rellectors, tablike contact means operablyconnected to and extending from each of said conducting layers of saidelectric supply means into interference with each of said sheet meansopenings, one of said contact means at each of said sheet means openingsthreadably receiving said light bulbs and the other of said contactmeans contacting said light bulb, said sheet means openings and saidcontact means cooperating to form said bulb sockets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 7/1961 Roper 24U-8.16 11/1962Madansky 240-8.16 7/1964 Strange 24U-8.16 11/1966 Feig 240-78 7/1968Gardner 240-8.16 8/1928 Russell 24U-41.3 X

1/1950 Barber 240-41.36 X

4/1968 Dorman 24U-41.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1967 Netherlands.

U.S. Cl. XR.

